THE FOUNDATION OF FRIENDS OF FILM FESTIVAL KITZBUEHEL

Members talk about their love for FFKB

The Foundation of Friends of Film Festival Kitzbuehel under the direction of President Michael von Wolkenstein thrives magnificently. We can not only happily announce constant growth oft he family, but are also thankful for the incredible support of our members, who have been supporting the festival for years now. The annual revenue will be used to promote and support aspiring filmmakers.

This year we would like to introduce you to some of our fellow allies.

DR. JULIA CORDIN

Job: Plastic Surgeon

Place of Residence: Innsbruck & Kitzbuehel

What is your connection to Kitzbuehel?

Friendships connect me with Kitzbuehel. Even before I established my place of business here, I came here regularly to visit friends.

What was your motivation to become a plastic surgeon?

After completing my medical studies, I decided to first start my training as a general practitioner. After 4 years of residency, I took on an assistant position at the general surgery in St. Johann i.T. but soon switched to the University Hospital in Zurich. As part of my general surgical training, I received a 3-month residency at the plastic surgery in Zurich. During this time, I discovered my love for plastic surgery.

Cosmetic Surgery has experienced an absolute high in recent years. Not only in Hollywood, South America or in this country has the conversation about plastic surgery become socially acceptable. Whether someone likes it, is a matter of taste. Would you still have an aesthetic limit that you would not exceed for the benefit of the patient? What do you pay attention to in your work?

My experience as an aesthetic surgeon has taught me: Every patient has to be treated individually. I want to offer my patients the best possible treatment! This also means saying “no” to a treatment request.

Which films have touched or upset you profoundly in your life?

„Harold and Maude“

BEN SALM-REIFFERSCHEIDT

Job: Renewable Energy

Place of Residence: Vienna

What connects you with Kitzbuehel and what makes you come back here again and again?

What does not connect me with Kitzbuehel? Here I learned to ski, I went out for the first time, made many friends, met my soul mate. I was always here. In winter, in summer, as a little boy, as a teenager and now again as an adult. I hope that my children will love Kitzbuehel as much as I did.

In all the years you spent in Kitzbuehel, which places did you choose as your favorite?

That’s not easy to say. There are many. In no particular order I would name the following: Schwarzsee in October, the Londoner (at the age of 16), the Horn with its powder snow, Hagstein on a warm summer evening, the Kitzbuehel Fair.

You have been a member of the Friends of Film Festival Kitzbühel for a few years now. Can you still remember your first film at FFKB? What was your impression of the event at that time?

My first FFKB film was “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power”, Al Gore’s second documentary on climate change … Actually suitable for a place where nature is so beautiful and so present, as it is here in Kitzbuehel and especially a reminder that we should never take them for granted. I really liked the festival from the beginning. It gets a little more professional each year without losing intimacy.

GRETA KOGLER

Job: Student, Editor at Kulturwoche.at

Place of Residence: Vienna

What connects you with Kitzbuehel?

I was born near Kitzbuehel and spent most of my youth in the city, my whole social environment was in Kitzbuehel. I grew up here, so to say.

You have been an integral part of our festival over the last few years. How would you summarize FFKB’s development?

Already at the first FFKB edition I got to have a look behind the scenes as a volunteer and I was a fan right from the beginning, especially of the idea to establish a film festival in this alpine town. Over the years, and also through my work at FFKB, I was able to observe how the festival went smoother from year to year, how much fun the filmmakers and visitors had, and what great growth there was for the festival. Not only the film selection has become higher in quality as I see it, but also the supporting program has brought great events to Kitzbuehel every year, which is why the film festival is in and of itself one of the summer highlights of this city.

What were your highlights oft he last years?

Highlights included some very special films that left a lasting impression, such as “Hommeless” or Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Sequel”. But also delicacies such as Tony’s reports on FFKB and the Drive-In-Cinema make FFKB a very unique film festival, which is a real asset especially for the sports town Kitzbuehel and brings variety.